All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Trichodiadema aff. hallii H 4255
This species has very thick roots and compact leaves and readily produces abundant attractive pink flowers.
 

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The bristles on the tips of its leaves give this plant its generic name which means "hairy crown".

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Scientific name:  Trichodiadema hallii L.Bolus 1950

Origin:  South Africa (Cape Province,  Kl. Karroo, Ladismith- Distr.)

Habitat:  Grows  crevice on quartzite rocks.

Common Name: African Bonsai, Miniature Desert Rose

Etymology: This member of the Aizoaceae family was given this name by Martin Heinrich Gustav Schwantes in 1926. The genus name "Trichodiadema" means "hairy crown" referring to the hair radiating from the leaf tips.

Description: Small erect succulent shrub up to 6 cm tall.
Stems: Compact, wiry,  woody, not succulent, that produces short branches from the base and form dense bunch.
Roots: Tuberose, very thick.
Leaves: 1-1,5 cm long, green, thick, close-set, in four vertical rows, cylindrical, slender with few short white, flexible, spine-like projections that forming a delicate triple crown at the tip.
Flowers: Abundant, opening only in sun on the morning, and closing in the afternoon, vivid violet-pink to magenta, up to 3 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Autumn to Spring. Mainly in late-winter.
 

The flowers are bright violet-purple at the end of winter.
 

Cultivation: Likes a part-shade position (some early or late sun) but is quite tolerant as regards sun and intense heat. Growing in well-drained soil, Tolerates considerable frost a low as – 4° C (or less) and dry conditions due to its tuberous roots. This species is slow growing and after some years, the roots can be raised for effect, creating a beautiful succulent bonsai. This plants in the first years are usually grown in black nursery containers but if you have a mature specimen with a nice caudex, a bonsai pot or dish seems to make the plant a little more special and helps display the plant well.

Propagation: Seeds, it can be also reproduced by cuttings.


USE: Roots of Trichodiadema species have been used in the past for speeding the fermentation of bread, beer, etc. It is presumed they contain either yeast or sugars which increase the rate of fermentation.

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.